YUGOSLAV POLLS!

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22762, 10 November 1945, Page 5

YUGOSLAV POLLS!

POLITICAL EXPERIMENTS REPUBLICANS CONFIDENT NEW METHOD OF VOTING (By Tel.—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Received Nov. 10, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 9 Women will vote for the first time when Jugoslavia goes to the polls on November 11 in the first secretballot general election held since before 1929. An electorate of 7,000,000 Yugoslavs will send 354 representatives to the Federal Assembly and 175 to the Assembly of the People. Everyone over the age of 18 has the right to vote. Each elector will be given two small balls which will be held by the clench/d right hand—representing a vote for each assembly. Funnel-shaped boxes will be labelled with the names of the various parties of the National Front and the Opposition. The issue between the parties is a clear-cut fight between the new and the old regimes. Those who stand for the new way of things are grouped together in the National Front, led by Marshal Tito. It comprises all the pre-war parties, which are pledged to a coalition. It is believed their success is a foregone conclusion, though it is difficult to guess what will be the strength of the various parties. Opposition’s Attitude The Opposition consists of prewar politicians wno reject the wnole structure of the new regime and stand lor tne monarchy against the National Front’s republicanism. The Opposition has refused to take part in tne election and has put forward no programme. Its hope apparently is pinned on Western intervention, but the Government refuses to allow itself to be outmanoeuvred and possibly discredited by this attitude. It has therefore provided voting boxes for the Opposition, and electors will put a hand containing a small ball into each of the boxes but no one will be able to see wherein they release the ball. Both Assemblies will have an equal right to initiate, discuss and approve legislation but only legislation approved by both can become law. The Assemblies will not oe “upper” and “lower” Houses but will be different in origin and approach. Assembly of the People The Assembly of the People is designed to give a voice to the special interests of the federated units which make up the “New Yugoslavia,” to ensure that each has its say in the councils of the central Government. The Government must have a majority in each chamber. In the event of a difference of opinion over legislation a joint commission of both Houses will be formed. If after the commission has drafted a new bill there is still a disagreement, Parliament will be dissolved and a new election held. It is reported that everything indicates that Yugoslavia will henceforth be a republic under Marshal Tito, who will be its first President.